Jerry Burns, the man accused of killing Michelle Martinko, has been granted his request to have his trial moved from Linn to Scott County.

KCRG reports that a Linn County district court judge on Monday, ruled that the first-degree murder trial would be moved.

He and his lawyers had made the request on November 25. Lawyers for Burns claimed too much bias in the media and public eye in Linn County would prevent the selection of a fair and impartial jury in trying the case, which happened at Westdale Mall in a parking lot in 1979.

Everyone will be keeping their eyes on this trial as the community spent 40 years wondering if Martinko's murderer would ever be found. Genetic testing brought the police to their suspect last December, in Manchester where he was living and working at the time.

Burns' brothers were also initial suspects but later were ruled out.

The trial is set for February 10th, 2020.

[Via KCRG, CBS2]

 

 

 

 

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